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Gulf of Mexico: Shell Invests in GoM Stones Project
Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) today announces a final investment decision in the Stones ultra-deepwater project, a Gulf of Mexico oil and gas development expected to host the deepest production facility in the world.
This decision sets in motion the construction and fabrication of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel and subsea infrastructure. The development will start with two subsea production wells tied back to the FPSO vessel, followed later by six additional production wells. This first phase of development is expected to have annual peak production of 50,000 boe/d from more than 250 million boe of recoverable resources. The Stones field has significant upside potential and is estimated to contain over 2 billion boe of oil in place.
“This important investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to usher in the next generation of deepwater developments, which will deliver more production growth in the Americas,” said John Hollowell, Executive Vice President for Deepwater, Shell Upstream Americas. “We will continue our leadership in safe, innovative deepwater operations to help meet the growing demand for energy in the US.”
The Stones field is located in 9,500 feet (2,896 meters) of water, approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was discovered in 2005. The project encompasses eight US Federal Outer Continental Shelf lease blocks in the Gulf of Mexico’s Lower Tertiary geologic trend. Shell has been one of the pioneers in the Lower Tertiary, establishing first production in the play from its Perdido Development.
An FPSO design was selected to safely develop and produce this ultra-deepwater discovery, while addressing the relative lack of infrastructure, seabed complexity, and unique reservoir properties. With an FPSO, tankers will transport oil from the Stones FPSO to US refineries, and gas will be transported by pipeline.
The launch of the Stones development is a key milestone as Shell continues to grow deepwater exploration and development in the Gulf of Mexico, having made significant progress recently on the Mars-B development project with the arrival of the Olympus tension leg platform. Shell is also in the concept selection phase for the Appomattox and Vito discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico.
Shell holds 100% interest and will operate the Stones development.
Gulf of Mexico: InterMoor Completes Heave-Compensation Job in U.S. GoM
InterMoor, an Acteon company, has successfully completed a contract with Cross Group, Inc. that included the provision of heave-compensation services for the installation of a Cross 7.0 workover riser package (WRP).
An InterMoor compensated anchor-handler subsea installation method (CASIM) unit played a key role in deploying and recovering the WRP.
“The CASIM system enabled us to provide effective heave compensation and to recover the delicate WRP on a vessel without an active heave-compensated crane or stern roller,” said InterMoor vice president of business development David Cobb. “That was the only way to achieve the WRP installation from this vessel. The success of this project underlines the value of the CASIM system as a cost- and time-effective solution, and explains why more and more subsea contractors and operators are choosing it to facilitate the installation of workover packages.”
Each standard CASIM unit has a maximum stroke of 3 meters and can accommodate loads up to 50 tons.
The heave compensation operation was in water depths of about 140 meters and used Cal Dive’s Uncle John DP saturation diving vessel to install the 29-ton WRP. The project took place at East Cameron well 378#3, offshore Louisiana, USA. The Cross Group is conducting a plugging and abandonment (P&A) program in the field for EPL Oil & Gas, Inc.
This project demonstrates how InterMoor can provide cost-effective solutions for the installation of subsea workover equipment using vessels of opportunity. Operators trust InterMoor to be part of their P&A campaigns and to help them meet BOEMRE NTL No. 2010-G05 requirements for timely decommissioning of idle infrastructure on active leases.
Gulf of Mexico: Balltec to Supply Subsea Mooring Connectors for Tubular Bells Project
Balltec Ltd, Morecambe,UK, has been contracted by Houston Offshore to supply and install 10 off MoorLOK™ subsea mooring connectors for the Tubular Bells project, located in the Mississippi Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico.
The contract covers the manufacture of 10 off 15,000kN MoorLOK™ connectors for the mooring of the Williams floating production system (FPS), Gulfstar GS1 on the Tubular Bells field at a water depth of 4,500ft. The connectors will be manufactured in accordance with the ABS Guide for the Certification of Offshore Mooring Chain, 2009, and are due to be installed during the first half of 2013.
Martin Bell, Sales and Marketing Director at Balltec Ltd said:
‘Balltec is proud to have been awarded this significant mooring connector contract. The Tubular Bells project has been under development for some time and we are very much looking forward to working with Houston Offshore Engineering and Williams to play our part in bringing this project to first oil.’
Russell Benson, Managing Director, Balltec Ltd said:
‘The award of the Tubular Bells mooring connector package is another significant contract gain in 2012. With Tubular Bells and several other projects due to be completed next year as well as new products ready to be launched, 2013 is going to be another exciting year for Balltec.’
The Balltec MoorLOK™ is a disconnectable, subsea mooring connector designed for the temporary and permanent mooring of floating structures.
Gulf Island Fabrication to Construct Jacket for Gulf of Mexico Project
Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. , announced today that, through its subsidiary Gulf Marine Fabricators, it has received a Letter of Intent in anticipation of a contract for the fabrication of a 1200’ jacket from Walter Oil & Gas Corporation for its Coelacanth Project located at Ewing Bank 834 in the Gulf of Mexico.
Revenue backlog and man-hours associated with this project will be included in the Company’s consolidated backlog and will be reported when the Company announces its earnings results for the year ended December 31, 2012.
Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., based in Houma, Louisiana, is a fabricator of offshore drilling and production platforms, hull and/or deck sections of floating production platforms and other specialized structures used in the development and production of offshore oil and gas reserves.
Related articles
- Gulf of Mexico: FMC Technologies to Supply Subsea Equipment for BP’s Field (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Gulf of Mexico: Chevron Announces Successful Production Well Test on St. Malo PS003 well (mb50.wordpress.com)
- InterMoor Completes IRIS Installation and Recovery for Apache in Gulf of Mexico, USA (mb50.wordpress.com)
Southwest Louisiana: Magnolia LNG Project to Boost Jobs
Gov. Bobby Jindal and Maurice Brand, Magnolia LNG Managing Director and Joint Chief Executive Director, announced the company’s plans to develop a $2.2 billion natural gas liquefaction production and export facility at The Port of Lake Charles.
The LNG project would create 45 new permanent jobs, with an average salary of $75,000 per year, plus benefits. LED also estimates the project would result in 175 new indirect jobs. In addition, the LNG project would require an estimated 1,000 construction jobs.
The company expects to make a final investment decision to move forward with the project in late 2014, after it secures permits and completes financing. The mid-scale LNG facility would be located on 90 acres at the port’s Industrial Canal, off the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Magnolia LNG would produce 4 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year, and construction would begin in 2015 pending the company’s attainment of permits and final financing.
Gov. Jindal said, “Magnolia LNG’s decision to move forward in developing a new LNG facility is great news for our state. Magnolia is the latest company that is choosing to invest in Louisiana because we have one of the best business climates in the country and we are continuing to foster an environment where companies want to create jobs.
“We’ve fostered a strong business climate because we have overhauled our ethics laws, revamped workforce development programs, eliminated burdensome business taxes, instituted reforms to give every child an opportunity to get a great education, and now we are taking on tax reform in order to make Louisiana the best place in the world for businesses to invest and create jobs for our people. In addition to our strong business climate, Louisiana’s abundance of natural gas, pipelines and accessible waterways, as well as our outstanding workforce, were key factors in Magnolia’s decision to choose our state. Facilities like these will help create and sustain thousands of jobs in the energy industry across our state and will ensure quality jobs for Louisiana families for years to come.”
Magnolia’s project would be positioned for direct access to several existing gas pipelines. Using its patented Optimized Single Mixed Refrigerant process, or OSMR™, Magnolia LNG would produce liquefied natural gas more efficiently with fewer emissions than other LNG processes. OSMR adds conventional combined heat and power technology with industrial ammonia refrigeration to enhance the performance of the liquefaction process. Magnolia LNG would distribute to domestic markets as well as countries that have free trade agreements with the U.S. The company also will explore a potential expansion to 8 million metric tons per year in the future.
“Southwest Louisiana’s attractive infrastructure and strong workforce made Lake Charles an ideal location for our planned facility,” Brand said. “We especially want to thank the Port of Lake Charles Commission for their partnership in identifying such an ideal location for this project. Whilst the company remains focused on securing the appropriate contracts, agreements and permits, we expect to commence construction of our first U.S. venture by 2015.”
Magnolia LNG will seek federal Department of Energy free trade agreement approval in 2013. The company will submit a pre-filing application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in March, before it completes the selection of project partners by June 2013. The company plans to begin hiring in early 2015, with commercial operations to begin in 2018.
“The Port of Lake Charles has been able to provide a unique combination of location, infrastructure and transportation capabilities to help bring this project to the region,” said Port Executive Director Bill Rase. “Magnolia LNG will be a significant and welcome addition to Southwest Louisiana’s energy corridor. The Port’s staff and board of commissioners look forward to doing business with the company.”
LED began working with Magnolia LNG in late 2012. The company’s proposed 90-acre site would include a long-term lease with The Port of Lake Charles. When Magnolia decides to proceed with construction, the company is anticipated to make use of LED incentive programs, such as the Quality Jobs Program and Industrial Tax Exemption Program.
“This project is another demonstration of our capacity for strengthening Southwest Louisiana and the state to become a stronger energy producer,” said President and CEO George Swift of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “We are appreciative of Magnolia LNG to make this investment in our region and for the Port of Lake Charles to once again to serve as the catalyst for this project. We look forward to their final investment decision next year.”
Magnolia LNG Project to Boost Jobs, USA LNG World News.
Related articles
- $2.2 Billion LNG Liquefaction Facility Announced for Port of Lake Charles (gcaptain.com)
- Bechtel wins FEED contract for Mozambique’s first LNG project (transportationandstorage.energy-business-review.com)
- South Korea: STX Launches Ultramodern LNG Carrier VELIKIY NOVGOROD (worldmaritimenews.com)
- Critics of LNG Exports Undermining Domestic, Global Strategic Benefits (fuelfix.com)
- Demand for LNG to Outstrip Supply in 2013 (247wallst.com)
Gulf of Mexico: FMC Technologies’ Subsea Equipment for LLOG’s Delta House Project
FMC Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received a subsea equipment order from LLOG Exploration Company, LLC (LLOG Exploration) for their Delta House project. The order has an estimated value of $114 million in revenue.
The project is located in the Gulf of Mexico Mississippi Canyon area in water depths of approximately 5000 feet (1524 meters). FMC Technologies’ scope of supply includes nine subsea trees, four subsea manifolds, five multiphase meters and associated topside control systems and subsea distribution systems. The equipment is scheduled for delivery in 2013.
“FMC Technologies is pleased to provide LLOG Exploration subsea systems for their recent Mississippi Canyon developments,” said Tore Halvorsen , FMC Technologies’ Senior Vice President, Subsea Technologies. “We welcome the opportunity to provide them with the subsea technology to meet their needs.”
“LLOG Exploration’s strategic alliance with FMC Technologies has been critical to LLOG Exploration’s success,” said Scott Gutterman , LLOG Exploration’s President and CEO.
Gutterman added, “We are pleased that FMC Technologies will provide the subsea equipment for this important project.”
Subsea World News – USA: FMC Technologies’ Subsea Equipment for LLOG’s Delta House Project.
Helix ESG’s T1200 Trencher Completes First North Sea Oil and Gas Project
Helix Energy Solutions Group’s new T1200 burial and trenching unit is quickly establishing a positive track record following the completion of an oil and gas project in the North Sea. The T1200 features a 1,200hp jet trenching spread, capable of burying product in water depths to 3,000m (10,000ft).
T1200 was deployed to bury a 14km long (8.7 mile), 10 inch export pipeline that included a 3 inch piggyback methanol line. The project specialization called for the line to be buried 2m (6.5ft) deep, with one meter of covering fill. The subsea trenching unit’s water jetting system trenched and simultaneously buried the pipeline under 1.4m (4.5ft) of sand in a continuous run that took just 48 hours.
The successful project is the T1200’s first oil and gas operation, and proves the versatility of the asset which has also been deployed to trench and bury high voltage undersea cables used to transport electricity from offshore wind farms to onshore power stations.
The T1200, operated by Helix ESG’s robotics subsidiary, Canyon Offshore, performed its first trenching job in early July 2012 at the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm trenching and burying an approximately 700m (2,300ft) long power cable between the wind turbines. Out of the 80 sections required in the field, the T1200 trenched and buried 37.
The T1200 was built in the UK by Forum Energy Technologies’ Perry Slingsby Systems ROV brand. The T1200’s design was based around the time proven T750 trencher( also owned and operated by Canyon Offshore) but has over 50 percent greater power and the capacity to trench larger diameter products (36 inches) to burial depths of 3m (10ft) depending on soil strength.
Subsea World News – Helix ESG’s T1200 Trencher Completes First North Sea Oil and Gas Project.
- ROV Support Vessel Grand Canyon Completes Sea Trials (Norway) (worldmaritimenews.com)
Worldwide Field Development News Oct 9 – Oct 15, 2012
This week the SubseaIQ team added 0 new projects and updated 7 projects. You can see all the updates made over any time period via the Project Update History search. The latest offshore field development news and activities are listed below for your convenience.
S. America – Brazil
Petrobras Announces Farfan Discovery
Oct 11, 2012 – Petrobras announced the discovery of light hydrocarbons at its Farfan prospect in block SEAL-M-426 offshore Brazil. Well 1-BRSA-851-SES is being drilled in 8,923 of water by the Deepsea Metro II (UDW drillship). A hydrocarbon bearing zone of 144 feet was discovered at a depth of 18,314 feet and was confirmed by wireline testing and fluid sample analysis. The rig will continue drilling to the target depth of 19,685. Petrobras and partner IBV Brazil hold 60% and 40% interest in the well respectively.
Oct 11, 2012 – Petrobras released preliminary drilling results concerning appraisal well 3-RJS-683A at the Jupiter prospect confirming a discovery of natural gas and condensate. The discovery has proven a continuous reservoir between 3-RJS-683A and the Jupiter discovery well. A 577-foot oil column has also been detected in rocks displaying excellent permeability and porosity. Further appraisal is needed to determine the size of the field but initial estimates suggest that Jupiter could hold as much as 1 billion cubic feet of gas. To this point, the well has reached a depth of 17,834 feet and drilling will continue in an effort to reach deeper targets.
Project Details: Jupiter
Europe – North Sea
Lundin Announces Albert Results
Oct 11, 2012 – The Bredford Dolphin (mid-water semisub) wrapped up drilling operations at Lundin’s Albert prospect offshore Norway. Well 6201/11-3 was drilled to 9,760 feet and penetrated a thin Cretaceous oil bearing reservoir. The reservoir was found at a depth where the primary target was expected to be encountered. Due to the makeup of the structure and uncertain distribution, an estimation of resources in place cannot be made at this time. A minor column of movable hydrocarbons was encountered in a Paleocene secondary target. Further geophysical and geological studies are required to clarify the potential of the discovery.
Project Details: Albert
Heerema Delivers Andrew Process Module
Oct 11, 2012 – Heerema Fabrication recently completed construction of the new 750 ton process module for BP’s Andrew platform in the UK North Sea. The module was designed to be a “bolt-on” addition to the platform facilitated by the use of two large hinge pins that engage hooks welded to the existing structure. Heerema’s Hartlepool yard benefited from the project by the creation of 180 jobs. In addition, the module was delivered without a single lost time incident.
Project Details: Andrew (UK)
Providence Encouraged by Barryroe Development Modeling
Oct 9, 2012 – Providence Resources recently completed a suite of static and dynamic modeling of the main Basal Wealden oil bearing reservoir interval within the Barryroe complex offshore Ireland. Data from the new models was incorporated with maps made from the recent 3D seismic survey of the area allowing Providence to establish oil recovery factors ranging from 17% to 43%. A modeled recovery factor of 31% over 25 years was achieved based on a development scenario which implemented 41 horizontal production and 22 horizontal water injection wells. Also, the company awarded the Barryroe Concept Development Engineering Study to Procyon Oil and Gas. Procyon will help determine the best development plan for the field based on the different scenarios recently modeled by Providence.
Project Details: Barryroe
Ithaca Adds to Resources in UK North Sea
Oct 9, 2012 – Ithaca Energy has acquired interest in the Cook and MacCulloch fields in the UK North Sea through the acquisition of two Noble Energy subsidiaries. The Shell-operated Cook field is located in block 21/20a and is processed through the Anasuria FPSO. The acquisition will bring Ithaca’s stake in the field to 41.345%. The ConocoPhillips-operated MacCulloch field is found in block 15/24b and was developed through 4 subsea wells tied back to the North Sea Producer FPSO. Finalization of the acquisition, expected in early 2013, will give Ithaca a 14% stake in the field. With the addition of these assets, Ithaca’s net production – largely oil – should increase by 1,100 boepd. The company’s total consideration in the arrangement is $38.5 million.
Project Details: MacCulloch
Asia – Far East
Lufeng FSOU Gets an Upgrade
Oct 9, 2012 – InterMoor completed its first permanent mooring project in the Lufeng field in the South China Sea. The company was contracted by CNOOC to handle project management, engineering, procurement and installation of a new buoy turret mooring system for the Nanhai Sheng Kai FSOU. Installation of the new mooring system should allow CNOOC to get an additional 15 years of service life out of the vessel which was first deployed in 1992. Included in the work scope was the addition of a new 8-inch flexible flowline and riser between the mooring system and LF13-2 wellhead platform. The FSOU was previously anchored in the LF13-1 field but has been moved to the 13-2 field since the upgrade to expand development there.
Australia
Scarborough Partners Still Mulling Development Options
Oct 11, 2012 – ExxonMobil said a decision on how to develop the Scarborough gas field is not likely until the second half of 2013. Scarborough is considered one of the most difficult fields off Western Australia to develop. Water depth in the area is around 4,700 feet and the closest land is 170 miles away. The company is evaluating several options with its joint partner BHP Billiton. Some of the options include building a floating LNG platform or supplying gas to companies that have existing LNG plants.
MEO Ready for Farmout in Joseph Bonaparte Gulf
Oct 9, 2012 – MEO Australia announced its intention to launch the farmout of exploration permit WA-454-P on Nov. 1. The farmout is scheduled to conclude by the end of 1Q 2013. WA-454-P, located in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, contains the Marina-1 discovery and the sizable Breakwater prospect. MEO describes Marina-1 as a “gas and probably oil” discovery with 3C contingent gas resources of up to 3.2 Bcf and 3C contingent oil/condensate resources of up to 29.5 MMstb. Gas-only perspective resources for Breakwater are up to 2.7 Tcf with 87 MMstb condensate. In addition, Breakwater is situated in an area near proven gas discoveries that are planned to be developed with floating LNG technology. MEO was awarded WA-454-P in June 2011 and holds 100% interest in the permit.
Project Details: Marina
Related articles
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 14 – Sep 20, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Aug 10 – Aug 16, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
- Worldwide Field Development News Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2012 (mb50.wordpress.com)
Continents of the World
